LONDON — British tennis player Sonay Kartal reflected on her breakthrough Wimbledon run after narrowly missing out on a maiden Grand Slam quarter-final, stating "People have gotten to know me better" following her fourth-round defeat to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
A Controversial Exit
The 22-year-old wildcard's dream run at SW19 ended in a 7-5, 6-2 loss to the experienced Russian, but not without controversy. A crucial line call dispute at 5-5 in the first set became the match's turning point, when chair umpire Kader Nouni overruled an out call on Pavlyuchenkova's serve despite no Hawkeye confirmation available on Court 18.
Kartal, ranked No. 298 coming into Wimbledon, expressed frustration post-match: "It's tough when those moments go against you in such a big match. I felt I had the momentum before that call. But Anastasia played the big points better when it mattered."
Breakthrough Performance
Despite the defeat, Kartal's tournament marked several milestones for British tennis:
- First British woman since Johanna Konta (2019) to reach Wimbledon's second week
- Lowest-ranked woman to make Wimbledon's last 16 since 2008
- First player from Brighton to reach this stage in Open Era
The Sussex-born player reflected: "Two years ago I was playing ITFs and wondering if I'd ever get my ranking high enough for qualifiers. Now I've shown I belong at this level. That belief changes everything."
Grass Court Specialist Emerging
Kartal's game proved perfectly suited to grass this fortnight. Her flat groundstrokes and improved serve (averaging 108mph first serves) troubled higher-ranked opponents including 29th seed Sorana Cîrstea and former French Open finalist Markéta Vondroušová.
Coach Nigel Sears noted: "Sonay's always had the weapons for grass. What's changed this year is her tactical maturity and ability to stay calm under pressure. She's playing percentage tennis rather than going for broke every point."
Line Call Fallout
The controversial overrule at 5-5, 30-30 in the first set sparked debate about Wimbledon's limited electronic line-calling. Unlike other courts, Court 18 still relies on human line judges for most calls, with Hawkeye only used for challenges.
Wimbledon officials later confirmed the ball was indeed out by 2mm according to post-match Hawkeye review. Tournament director Jamie Baker stated: "We're constantly evaluating our officiating protocols. This incident will form part of that ongoing review process."
What Comes Next
Kartal's performance guarantees a career-high ranking inside the top 150, with analysts predicting she could break the top 100 by year's end. Her immediate schedule includes:
- WTA 250 in Lausanne (July 15-21)
- US Open qualifying (August 20-23)
- Potential direct entry into Chicago WTA 500
The British No. 4 remains philosophical about her breakthrough: "This isn't a one-off. I've put in the hard yards for years. Now people see what I can do, but I'm just getting started. The goal is top 50 by next Wimbledon."
Pavlyuchenkova's Perspective
The 33-year-old Russian, who reached her first Wimbledon quarter-final since 2016, praised Kartal's performance: "She's got great potential. The way she handled the pressure and crowd showed real champion qualities. That disputed call could have broken her, but she kept fighting."
Pavlyuchenkova also weighed in on the officiating debate: "Tennis needs consistency. Either all courts have electronic calling or none do. These inconsistencies create unnecessary tension in big moments."
British Tennis Reaction
The LTA highlighted Kartal's run as evidence their player pathway programs are working. Performance director Michael Bourne commented: "Sonay's progression through our National Academy system shows what's possible with the right support structure and work ethic."
Former British No. 1 Laura Robson added on BBC: "This changes everything for her. Sponsors will take notice, she'll get wildcards for bigger events, and most importantly, she now knows she can compete with the best."
As Kartal left the All England Club, she left a message for aspiring British players: "Don't let anyone tell you it's impossible. Two years ago I was ranked 800. If you keep showing up, keep improving, your moment will come."